(BOX SCORE)
CORTLAND, NY—Andrew Giuliano rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries to lead No. 15 Cortland (4-0/4-0) over visiting Buffalo State (0-4/0-3), 35-14, in an NJAC game today at SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex.
Cortland had just 154 total rushing yards for the day and 307 yards of total offense. Buffalo State gained 258 yards, including 191 through the air.
Jeremy Mountain (Cheektowaga/Maryvale) was 11 of 16 for 110 yards and a touchdown for the Bengals, before being knocked out of the game. Freshman
Kenny Murphy (Lancaster/Lancaster) took his first snaps of the season, going 4 of 9 for 56 yards and a score with an interception.
Greg Meyer (Lancaster/Lancaster) caught 10 balls for 114 yards and both Bengal scores.
Matt Pacana (N. Tonawanda/N. Tonawanda) led the defense with 12 tackles.
Jermaine Rose (Niagara Falls/Niagara Falls) had 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Joe Perez (Corning/Corning West) added nine tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Buffalo State opened the scoring on its first possession of the second quarter with a seven-play, 69-yard drive, capped by a 32-yard strike from Mountain to Meyer.
Derrick Woodard returned the ensuing kick 35 yards to set Cortland up with a drive start at its 47-yardline. The Red Dragons needed just six plays to even the score following a 20-yard scoring pass from Ray Miles to Zacc Guaragno.
The Red Dragons pinned the Bengals deep after the kickoff and forced a punt and took over with good field position again, starting out at the Buffalo State 45-yardline. Cortland needed just six plays again, pulling ahead with a 7-yard scoring run by Giuliano.
The score remained 14-7until the fourth quarter. The Red Dragons assembled a 61-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Giuliano to push the lead to 21-7.
After another Bengals three-and-out, Cortland started its next drive at the Bengals' 27-yard line. Three plays later, Cory Russell broke a 17-yard run to extend the advantage to 21 points.
Buffalo State cut the deficit on its next possession, moving 72 yards on seven plays, culminating with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Murphy to Meyer.
After a stalled Cortland drive, the Red Dragons' defense held and forced a turnover on downs deep in Bengal territory. Cortland drove 26 yards in six plays for the game's final score, when Justin Kindt recovered a Giuliano fumble in the end zone.
“The short field was the story of the game,” said Buffalo State Head Coach Paul Shaffner. “Our kids played hard and we were right there going into the fourth quarter, but we were forced to take some chances that didn't pan out for us, and Cortland made the most of good field position.”
Buffalo State will welcome Kean University to Coyer Field next Saturday at noon.
